battery tender

Jeff_DML · 12-07-2018, 01:35 PM

anyone have any recommendations?

just something cheap of amazon good enough? first search result

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...a-594381363514

thanks

dan · 12-07-2018, 01:42 PM

That's the one I used with the Elise

John V · 12-07-2018, 02:14 PM

Agree, that'll work fine.

rumatt · 12-07-2018, 02:25 PM

I have a similar one. Always worked great.

Jeff_DML · 12-07-2018, 04:13 PM

thanks

equ · 12-08-2018, 12:40 PM

I use and recommend this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006G14FK8/

JST · 12-08-2018, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equ

I use and recommend this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006G14FK8/

So this is maybe a dumb question, but what's the best way to hook one of these up so that I don't have to use the clamps every time I want to set it up? Ideally I'd like to hard wire a lead so that I can just plug the car in after driving; most of these come with leads that appear designed for that purpose but they aren't large enough for a 12V car battery.

Or is what I'm looking for dangerous/non-existent?

rumatt · 12-08-2018, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

So this is maybe a dumb question, but what's the best way to hook one of these up so that I don't have to use the clamps every time I want to set it up? Ideally I'd like to hard wire a lead so that I can just plug the car in after driving; most of these come with leads that appear designed for that purpose but they aren't large enough for a 12V car battery.

Or is what I'm looking for dangerous/non-existent?

Battery tender comes with a mount on the battery terminals and a quick-release plug. Is that what you mean?

Terri Kennedy · 12-09-2018, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

So this is maybe a dumb question, but what's the best way to hook one of these up so that I don't have to use the clamps every time I want to set it up? Ideally I'd like to hard wire a lead so that I can just plug the car in after driving; most of these come with leads that appear designed for that purpose but they aren't large enough for a 12V car battery.

Or is what I'm looking for dangerous/non-existent?

Here is what I did on the Atom. The ring terminals won't go directly on the battery. However, if you un-do the bolts that hold the battery terminal clamps shut, you should be able to slip the ring over the bolt and re-assemble the clamp. You can pickup the negative from anywhere on the frame. On older cars, some people use one of the bus bars in the fuse box for the positive and a nearby chassis point for the negative.

It is important to remember that you have the tender connected, otherwise things can get exciting when you move the car - hence the "remove before flight" streamer in the link I posted.

equ · 12-08-2018, 01:14 PM

CTEK provides a lighter plug, if that input works for the car in question:

https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-263-C.../dp/B0016LA5O8

I don't charge my cars too often, so I use clamps. I'm also not positive if the lighter plug turns off after some time.

The motorcycles, OTOH, need more charging due to less frequent use over the winter. Both of my bikes have leads attached to battery posts permanently, with a small capped plug hanging for quick charging. I'm not sure if car battery posts use the same size bolts, and I'm not sure if that's a great idea to add to the more complex electrical system of a car, so I haven't done it on a car. It's probably no big deal.

12-07-2018, 01:35 PM	#1
Jeff_DML Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: T4R,GTI Location: San Diego Posts: 8,564	battery tender anyone have any recommendations? just something cheap of amazon good enough? first search result https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...a-594381363514 thanks

12-07-2018, 01:42 PM	#2
dan redefined Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 14,896	That's the one I used with the Elise __________________ "There's a freedom you begin to feel the closer you get to Austin, Texas." -Willie

12-07-2018, 02:14 PM	#3
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	Agree, that'll work fine.

12-07-2018, 02:25 PM	#4
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	I have a similar one. Always worked great.

12-07-2018, 04:13 PM	#5
Jeff_DML Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: T4R,GTI Location: San Diego Posts: 8,564	thanks

12-08-2018, 12:40 PM	#6
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,584	I use and recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006G14FK8/

12-08-2018, 01:14 PM	#10
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,584	CTEK provides a lighter plug, if that input works for the car in question: https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-263-C.../dp/B0016LA5O8 I don't charge my cars too often, so I use clamps. I'm also not positive if the lighter plug turns off after some time. The motorcycles, OTOH, need more charging due to less frequent use over the winter. Both of my bikes have leads attached to battery posts permanently, with a small capped plug hanging for quick charging. I'm not sure if car battery posts use the same size bolts, and I'm not sure if that's a great idea to add to the more complex electrical system of a car, so I haven't done it on a car. It's probably no big deal.